Teel Time: Game-by-game ACC tournament forecast

David Teel

The 60th ACC basketball tournament convenes Thursday at its traditional home, Greensboro, N.C. But with a top seed hailing from palm tree and stone crab country, the event could be a showcase for the nouveau riche.

This marks Miami’s ninth ACC tournament, and the Hurricanes have yet to reach the final, let alone collect a trophy. But they did win the regular season outright, securing the program’s first NCAA tournament bid since 2008.

Will the Hurricanes become the second consecutive champion from that group, succeeding 2012 winner Florida State? Here’s the forecast.

THURSDAY

No. 8 Boston College (15-16, 7-11) vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech (16-14, 6-12): This matchup is expansion-fueled scheduling weirdness at its finest. The Eagles and Yellow Jackets did not meet until Saturday’s regular-season finale, and five days later, here they are again.

The Eagles enter the tournament on a three-game winning streak, matched only by Duke. Boston College starts two freshmen and two sophomores; Georgia Tech starts three rookies, youth that precludes any reliable handicapping.

The pick: Boston College.

No. 5 North Carolina State (22-9, 11-7) vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech (13-18, 4-14): The Hokies played one of their best road games in a 90-86 overtime setback to the Wolfpack last month as Jarell Eddie (17 points) and Marshall Wood (14) supplemented Erick Green’s standard excellence (29 points).

No. 7 Maryland (20-11, 8-10) vs. No. 10 Wake Forest (13-17, 6-12): The Terps’ 67.3 percent shooting in an 86-60 rout of the Deacons in February was the highest for any ACC team in any game this season. Maryland followed with a 67-57 victory at Wake earlier this month, again using its defensive length to disrupt the Deacons.

Wake scored a season-high 90 points at home Sunday against defenseless Virginia Tech, but the Deacons are 2-12 away from Joel Coliseum, 0-9 against ACC competition.

The pick: Maryland.

No. 6 Florida State (17-14, 9-9) vs. No. 11 Clemson (13-17, 5-13): A six-game skid to close the regular season saddled the Tigers with their worst ACC finish since 2004. Conversely, the defending champion Seminoles have won three of the last four, their best stretch of the conference schedule.

Florida State swept two January games against Clemson by a combined eight points and has tournament-forged veterans such as Michael Snaer, Okaro White and Ian Miller.

The pick: Florida State.

FRIDAY

Boston College vs. No. 1 Miami: The tournament’s top seed hasn’t lost its opening game since 1997, when Duke stumbled against N.C. State. Three recent defeats notwithstanding, don’t expect the Hurricanes to join that company.

The pick: Miami.

N.C. State vs. No. 4 Virginia: As most wearing orange and blue know all too well, the Cavaliers haven’t reached the semifinals since 1995. They defeated the Wolfpack 58-55 in the teams’ only regular-season meeting, but All-ACC guard Lorenzo Brown rolled his ankle with State leading 12-7 and did not return.

Florida State vs. No. 3 North Carolina: The Tar Heels had won six straight before Saturday’s home loss to Duke, including a 21-point dusting of the Seminoles. Carolina also prevailed in Tallahassee, and a third conquest of FSU would set up a semifinal against Duke.

The pick: North Carolina.

SATURDAY

N.C. State vs. Miami: Reggie Johnson’s last-second tip-in lifted the Hurricanes over the Wolfpack 79-78 last month, State’s only home defeat this season. A game of similar quality would be most welcome.

The pick: Miami.

North Carolina vs. Duke: The Blue Devils have won their five most recent tournament encounters with the Tar Heels, last losing in the 1998 final. They also swept the regular-season series.

The pick: Duke.

SUNDAY

Miami vs. Duke: Their two regular-season meetings were, shall we say, memorable. The Hurricanes’ 90-63 victory in January marked the worst loss for a No. 1 team since 1968, when UCLA caved to Houston by 32 points. Two Saturdays ago, playing for the first time since injuring his right foot in early January, Ryan Kelly scored a career-high 36 points as Duke countered with a 79-76 victory.

The pick: Duke.

I can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at dteel@dailypress.com. Follow me at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP